London 2 Ipswich 27 Old Cooperians 20 Ipswich mounted a fantastic fightback from 15 points down with just 20 minutes left with three cracking late tries and a penalty securing a welcome win.
Storm Brian made conditions difficult for the players with strong gusting wind disrupting handling at Humber Doucy Lane.
Old Cooperians gained a penalty early on and kicked deep to gain a line-out a few metres from the Ipswich line. Their big pack drove forward with a rolling maul to provide a score for Daryl Ox after only five minutes gone.
It was near the half hour before Old Cooperians scored a second try, a winger breakaway from Harry Fayers.
At half-time Old Cooperians were ahead 10-0 but it was clear that in a game dominated by errors it was anyone’s match.
Ipswich restarted with more purpose and control and backs created a break for Charlie Dower who ran clear to score on 45 minutes. The conversion was narrowly missed but Ipswich were right back in the game at 10-5 down.
Old Cooperians continued to dominate in the set pieces and worked forward into Ipswich territory before forcing a penalty which was converted by Joe Bilton on 53 minutes to restore a two score margin, 13-5 to the visitors.
And when winger Kolade Awobowale leapt on a loose ball and sprinted clear to score a try between the posts, converted by Bilton, the visitors had a comfortable 20-5 lead with only 20 minutes remaining.
Finally, Ipswich started to play, winning some good ruck ball near half way Chris Blom and Jake Goodwin inter-passed neatly to break forward before flanker Gwyn Church sprinted clear to score, converted by Corey Button to make it 20-12.
Ipswich were attacking more purposefully now as Cameron Beaton scored a very good team try on 70 minutes. Button’s conversion bounced back from the upright so Ipswich were tantalisingly close at 20-17 with 10 minutes to play and the momentum clearly with them.
On the 76th minute the pressure told as Ipswich forced a penalty and Button took it quickly to score and convert to take the home side into the lead for the first time in the match at 24-20.
There was still time for Button to add another penalty and cap a dramatic win for Ipswich.
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